Web Design

The Latest In Web Design Trends

Like most technological fields, web design is changing rapidly. Whether you are an enthusiast, you own a website, or you are a web designer yourself, it can be extremely useful to remain up-to-date on the latest web design trends. Seeing as yesterday’s trends become obsolete quickly, you want to make sure that you are right alongside the pack, if not ahead of the curve.

While mobile responsive trends are the top of everyone’s must-have lists, other trends are also becoming  fashionable and are being resurrected along the way. Staying on top of this, can easily result in added traffic, so it is important to take the time to absorb what is trending.

Animated GIF’s

Currently, one noticeable trend among fashionable websites is GIF’s. These are Videos that are smoothly looped over and over again. They have become especially popular on blogs and message boards alike. Adding a few to your own website would certainly be a trendy decision. Also, since most web pages are overly static, this is an easy way to spice up your site and give an appearance of action. Doing so, gives your visitors the impression that your website is the place to be, and it will certainly hold their attention.

House Design

Contemporary Kitchen Design

If you are one of those people who consider the terms modern and contemporary to be interchangeable you might get into difficulties when it comes to kitchen design according to the kitchen professionals.  While many kitchens have elements of the two merging happily, contemporary kitchens can easily be identified by certain specific elements.

According to homecenternews.com, to confuse you even further, a contemporary kitchen is more modern than a ‘modern’ kitchen because it incorporates all the latest trends. Here is a list of elements you can expect to find in a contemporary kitchen.

  1. A mix of different textures, colours and shapes all blended in together. For instance, you might see turquoise countertops and splashback with warm, wood grain floor and cupboards.
  2. A splashback that is quite different from the surrounding walls in colour and texture.
House Design

A Flooring Choice for Inside and Out

Most homeowners and builders would agree that the floor is one part of the home that deserves a full budget. If you need to cut back on spending, don’t do it on the floor. The reason for this is that without a floor the home is useless. In addition, some part of the floor is always in use so it needs to be strong. Natural materials such as limestone blocks can be used for the floor, for cladding and for the entertainment area outsidefeature wallStone cladding is also used for feature walls inside the home or outside, depending on the style and design of the home. Having a feature wall can make your home look truly amazing as well as unique. If you’ve never considered using it in this way, take a look at some home designs where it is included and you will see what a difference it makes to the look of the home. It can take the home from ordinary to spectacular.

Furniture Design

10 Essentials for Your Outdoor Kitchen

If you are sick and tired of always being indoors, creating an outdoor kitchen may be just what you and your family need.  That way you can all enjoy time outdoors whenever the weather is balmy and there is no need to head back inside to cook the evening meal.  While a handyman can easily make the deck for the kitchen, you’ll need a qualified electrician to install the lights and connect any electric appliances you need.

Here are some of the essentials you’ll need for an outdoor kitchen.

  1. Storage – this needs to be sealed so that rodents and insects can’t get in. Make sure doors on the cupboards shut tightly. A mobile kitchen island is ideal for an outdoor kitchen as it provides both storage and a bench to work on – and you can move it around as needed.
  2. A spare set of cutlery and crockery so you don’t have to bring it out from inside all the time. It doesn’t have to be expensive; even plastic will do.
Graphic Design

What Exactly Does Graphic Design Encompass?

Graphic Design encompasses the entire art and craft involved in creating the visual and text based elements of a web page. This can cover graphics, video, words, images, and everything in-between. Graphic Design does not necessarily exclusively entail the creation of graphics online alone. Occasionally, a Graphic Designer can be hired to design even the simplest postage stamp. Designers are often sought out to create alluring and expressive logos, for brands and new companies alike. The contents that Graphic Designers create are done for a variety of purposes. Whether it be to advance a cultural cause, or simply illustrate a commercial aspect of business, Graphic Designers are sought out frequently in the professional world.

Designers In Advertising

Designers have been arranging the creative elements on advertisements and various prints for a long time. In other words, their skills were sought out long before websites were around. As the internet came onto the scene, and personal computers as well as websites became more prevalent, Graphic Designers were sought out for assistance in the online world as well. Publishers of newspapers and magazines, have utilized the skills of Graphic Designers for the layout of their copy for many years.

Interior Design

7 Secrets to a Minimal Interior Design

Many interior designers such as Sam Sorgiovanni, love the minimalist look and it certainly makes small spaces look larger if you don’t overcrowd them. But even the look of a large room can be spoiled when it contains too much ‘stuff’, being reminiscent of an overcrowded shop. You can’t appreciate the interior design because there is just too much to see.

Here are 7 secrets from mcmcabinets.com.au to a minimal interior design.

  • Balance and proportions are key elements to a minimalistic look. Nothing, especially the furniture, should look too big or too small for the size of the room. Don’t put more on one side of the room than the other or it will look unbalanced and uneven. Furnishings should complement and coordinate together – which doesn’t mean you can’t use accent colours.
  • Consider quality over quantity. Don’t just choose things from a catalogue. What is in a minimalist room will really stand out and become a focal point, so it needs to be at least uncommon, if not unique. If it is just ordinary, the room will look kind of blah.
House Design

Home Pergola Design

When it comes to pergolas, Perth residents really enjoy all the benefits that the addition of this simple structure to their property brings. As opposed to Patios, Pergolas have no roof but a few beams that let in the rain and sun. They have no floor, but can stand on pavers or grass or be embedded into concrete. So how can they enhance your lifestyle?

  • You can have a pergola installed on the hot side of the house. With the addition of some climbing plants it will create living shade that makes the home much cooler.
  • It can be installed against a window and there will still be plenty of natural light come into the room.
  • A pergola can have shade cloth added to the roof or walls for added coolness without making a room very much darker.
  • It can be added on the sunny side to reduce the glare, something that people in southern areas of Australia find it difficult to contend with. Living vines are good at reducing glare and they won’t fall down on your roof during a bad storm like trees do.
  • The pergola is a great place to relax, surrounded by all those lovely plants that like a bit of protection from the sun and wind, but not too much.
House Design

Important Points for Designing an Outdoor Room

As well as landscaping their garden according to Lone Pine Landscapes, many people these days have an outdoor room they use for entertaining or just for the family to relax in. It enables them to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, cool evening or even a cool morning coffee before heading off to work. But for an outdoor room to really work well there are certain points that must be remembered.

  • It should be close to the house and preferable close to the back door for convenience. No one wants to wander all the way down to the bottom fence if they are on a time schedule. Having it close will ensure it gets used more often.
  • It needs to have a paved floor. This will save your shoes getting wet or muddy after rain and there will no need to worry about the lawn getting trampled or worn out in high traffic areas. It will also ensure more use can be had from this area. If it is not joined to the house, you’ll need a paved path to link the two for the same reason as above.
  • Shelter is important, especially in the summer. It need not be anything more complicated than a table with an umbrella, a small area of shade cloth or even a bushy tree to cast shade on hot days. You may also need a wall to protect against prevailing wind if your situation is exposed to strong winds. You could also enclose it in a framework that will support a louvered roof that can open and close or a permanent roof, especially if your climate is showery.
Furniture Design

Furniture Design: What Is Boat Wood Furniture

When designing your outdoor haven it’s good to have some idea of the kind of material you want your outdoor furniture to be made from. While there are many different kinds and styles available in the furniture store, not all may be suitable for your location, or for your comfort level. For instance, you may want to use your outdoor space just occasionally due to living in a cold climate. In this case it might be more budget friendly to purchase alfresco furniture that can double as indoor furniture during the colder weather.

If you are into recycling, you may be interested in boat wood furniture. Generally speaking, boat wood is timber recycled and reclaimed from boats, both locally and overseas. You can be sure that such wood is suitable for outdoor use, since it survived many years as a boat. It’s not only a strong and viable option, but offers an interesting conversation with guests while speculating on where exactly it came from and who owned it when it was a boat.

House Design

Airconditioners And Home Design

Once you’ve made the decision to purchase an air conditioner, you’ll need to decide which one is best suited to your needs and budget. It may also depend on your climate. It doesn’t take a lot of research, since there are basically 4 different types of air conditioner. Ducted air conditioning, split systems and window systems.

Ducted air cons

Ducted air conditioning must be the king of all types, because you can have it in every room so you are totally comfortable no matter which room you have to be in. But it costs more than the other options. However, you get more for your dollar with vents in every room. It is likely to cost more to run, since you lose coolness through the ductwork because the ceiling cavity is extremely hot, unless you pay extra for insulated ducting.

Ducted models can be evaporative or refrigerated. The former works only as a cooler, while the latter can become a heater in the winter. This saves on the expense of adding another type of heating.